Welsh woman attacked by romantic romeo.

A WELSH woman is warning single girls to watch out for holiday romance rapists after she was attacked abroad.

Twenty-seven-year-old Julie was holidaying in Thailand when she met ex-soldier Mark.

But when he lured her back to his apartment in the exotic resort of Koh Lanta, the woman from Cardiff realised just how vulnerable she was.

The pair met in a bar where Julie, who was travelling alone, had joined up with some fellow British women.

Mark and his friends invited the women to a party at their apartments, but at the last minute the other two women backed out. Mark then persuasively promised Julie he had a spare bed. Convinced by his charming personality, she went back with him. But as soon as she got there, she realised she had made a mistake.

She said: "On entering his room, I saw a double bed. I thought maybe I'd heard Mark wrong and the only thing that went through my head was, 'Why would a nice guy lie to me?'"

As Julie lay on the bed, Mark got in beside her.

"I told him I'd had too much to drink, but he didn't listen.

"He just smiled and ignored me - it was like he was in some kind of trance. He raped me and there was nothing I could do."

Julie's ordeal lasted two hours - she managed to escape when he fell asleep.

She was too frightened to tell the police but she did inform the British Embassy in Bangkok before leaving Thailand. She wants her tale to be a reminder to women across the country not to drop their guard just because they are on holiday.

According to the Foreign Office, there were 100 reported rapes and sexual assaults in popular European holiday destinations in 2002.

And during the last three years, The Roofie Foundation - named after the street term for date rape drug rohypnol - has recorded 244 incidences of rape and sexual assault involving drink spiking in Spain alone. In Greece there have been 178, 37 in Turkey, and 12 in Cyprus and the Canary Islands.

"And there are more problems with reporting rape abroad. Women should get in touch with the British consulate. They should also contact the Rape Crisis Centre when they get back."

And the spokeswoman said often the reason for attacks occurring abroad is due to men thinking they can get away with such behaviour.

She said: "Male tourists are in fact more likely to target women abroad.

"A lot of rapes abroad are carried out by their fellow tourists, although some are by local men.

"There aren't any more risks abroad than there are here. The risks are similar if they go clubbing or drinking here, and girls should take the same precautions."

And Graham Rhodes, from The Roofie Foundation, said drink spiking incidents on holiday are often committed by someone the victim has met at the beach or the bar.

He said: "Everyone focuses on the idea that rape is committed by strangers. But the statistics show it's more likely to be someone you know or have already met.

"A potential rapist is just as likely to be a 'nice guy' also on holiday as one of the locals."

The best advice, according to experts, is to take as much care abroad as you would at home and not to be lulled into a false sense of security by the warm nights and holiday atmosphere.

Foreign Office spokeswoman Sarah-Jane Dring said: "No one wants to be a killjoy, and nine out of 10 times you'll probably be perfectly okay.

"But you do need to use your better judgement, and avoid putting yourself in potentially dangerous situations."

n Never accept a drink from a stranger, unless you see it poured in front of you.

n Carry a small, keyring-sized bottle opener in your pocket so you can open any bottles yourself.

n Keep sight of your drink at all times.

n If you think a holiday romance is on the cards, tell a trusted friend where you're going, who with and when you expect to return. Then make sure the man you're with knows you have told a friend of your plans.

n Don't forget your common sense just because you're abroad.

n Always walk back to where you're staying in pairs.

n Try to avoid getting a taxi on your own and, if you have to, make sure it is a licensed cab.